Have you ever said you wanted to do something, but while you were saying that, you already knew it would probably never happen? And deep down inside you knew it would never happen because you never really had any serious intention of taking the steps to make it happen? I totally have. We say so many things we don’t mean. We confess things and don’t take ourselves seriously. I think everyone single one of us is guilty of confusing what we think we really want with something we just wish or hope for.
When I first contacted Matt & Kristin Buckley at Light of the World Ministries to tell them that I was interested in working with their ministry in Francistown, Botswana, their initial response, as with most who are interested in coming, was to wait and see. After being on the mission field for over 25 years, the Buckleys have seen many desire to come to Africa, but so few follow through and act on that desire. They’ve found that about 1 out of every 10 people who express an interest in coming out actually take the steps to fulfill their desire of serving on the mission field.
Have you ever said, “I would like to go on a missions trip one day”? Do you really want to go on a missions trip, or do you only wish you could?
When a dear friend and fellow missionary first suggested the idea to me of spending a year on the mission field, I definitely had a wishy-washy moment when I first thought I really want to do this, but at the same time thought I didn’t see how it could happen for me. How could I possibly just drop everything and move to a foreign country? And where was I going to get all the money to be able to go?
If you really want to go on a missions trip, my first piece of advice to you is to decide that you really want to go. Decide that you’re going to go to this country, on this date, to work with that organization/ministry, and you’ll work hard to raise every cent you need to raise to be able to go. Only after I made a definite decision to move to Botswana, did all of my initial hesitations and doubts begin to diminish. My decision also motivated me and birthed a fierce determination in me to pour all of my energies into accomplishing my goal. A huge change of heart and attitude developed in me simply because I hammered my stake in the ground, so to speak, and I decided that I truly wanted this.
My second piece of advice would be to pray. Pray and tell God the desire of your heart and trust and believe that He will open the door and provide your way to go. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Share your plans with the Lord, and you will succeed.” Also tell everyone you know that you’re going. Telling people helps put the right amount of pressure on you to stick to your decision. I find that I take my decisions much more seriously and they become more solidified when I tell others about it. Plus, more often than naught, you’ll find that people will respond to you with much needed encouragement and support when you share about your desire to pursue such a worthy endeavor.
Along with that, make sure you want to go on a missions trip for the right reasons. Several years before I went on my first missions trip, I just wanted to go because I loved traveling and because I thought it would be cool to visit someplace new. There’s nothing wrong with those reasons, but don’t go on a missions trip expecting it to be a relaxing vacation. I’ve definitely been able to do a day or two of fun, sightseeing, touristy stuff on missions trips I’ve been on, but keep in mind that your main reason for going is to give back. Just like Jesus, you are there to serve and not to be served. Trust me, you will get way more out of your trip if you have that attitude.
So, if you’re all talk in your desire to go on a missions trip (or to endeavor to do anything in your life for that matter), you need to graduate your talk into action; otherwise, going on a missions trip is not a venture for you, my fair-weather friend. I don’t say that to discourage you, but to challenge you. When you make an I’m-going-to-do-this-no-matter-what decision, I think you’ll be surprised to discover that it’s not too far-fetched of a goal to accomplish.
Next week, I’ll be covering some more practical steps about going on a missions trip, so stay tuned, and of course, please ask any questions you may have by leaving a comment below.
Related Posts:
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 1)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 3)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 4)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 5)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 6)
So You Want to Go on a Missions Trip? (Part 7)
